Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1887-10-05
THE CHEWING-GUM FAD.
Men, Women and Children Eabituai Users
of ToIu and Paraffine

Men, Women and Children Eabitual Users
of ToIu and Paraffine.
Few people have any realization of
the large interests involved in the man.
ufacture of chewing-gum, or of the ex-
tent to which it is habitually used
| They know that children love the
sticky morsel that keeps their Jaws in
motion, but the extent to which their
elders indulge a similar fondness is
generally unsupported. Women are
not proof against the seductions of the
penny package, and hosts of men, who
hide the little wad when threatened
with discovery, are wont to slip their
small change in the hands of boyish
vendors of tolu and paratfine delights
Such is the testimony of dealers,
whose assertion finds occasional proof
in the observations of every one. Chew
ing women may be seen in stores, on
! street cars, and even on the promenade.
They are so addicted to the habit that
even in public they can not forsake its
exercise. But these are exceptional de-
votees Many more indulge the taste
in private, secretly enjoying what they
blushingly confess or hide from every
eye. The masculine cheWer must have
something in his mouth; perhaps be-
cause he is trying to escape from the
thralldom of tobacco, or because he
finds it soothing aid to reflection. 1t
would be amusing to find on under
sides of somber desks the evidences of
such childish taste, but the discovery
might easily be made by any curious
] investigator.
To meet this want vast amounts of
gum are annually manufactured. One
large firm in Elgn, with branch in
the city, averages 1000 boxes a day,
and requires the services of more than
one hundred girls to wrap the little
packages. They keep in stock 500 900
worth of tiny pictures to adorn their
wares and catch the color-loving eyes
of little customers. Another firm in
New York City does a business esti-
mated at $500, 900 yearly. Though this
is the largest mandatory in the
, country, there are numerous others
that do good business and that swell
the sum received to millions annually.
Though there are innumerable varie-
ties of gum, differing chiefly in flavor
ing and appearance, there are several
kinds that are wholly distinct. OF these,
the white or paraf1lne gums and the
darker-colored tolu gums are made in
largest quantities. All white varieties
are made of paraffine, an article re-
curing no description. Tolu gums are
the product of balsam tolu and the
chicle tree. The latter is found in
Mexico. 1t yields a rubber-like gum,
called chicle. that can be easily chewed,
and is of creamy-brown color. Tolu
is yielded by the balsam tree that bears
its name. 1t is of dark color, and
serves the purpose of adding elasticity
to the compound. Sugar is used to
sweeten gum, and various ingredients
are added to furnish different fiavors.
Manufacturers report steadily in
creasing demand for their wares
throughout the country. This is espe-
cially noticeable in the South, where
grSn-chewing is surplanting the old
snuff habit, to which women were
almost universally addicted. Whatever
may be thought of the new custom, it
is certainly better than the old, if only
on account of cleanliness. The chief
objection to it seems to be it's lack of
taste if not its positive vulgarity, but SO
long as human nature takes delight in
doing things not quite commendable,
it probable could find few less harmful
diversions Beauty with cud is not
pleasing sight, however, and the social
laws that forbid her to eat upon the
promenade should relegate the enjoy
ment of her gum to hours of privacy.
Chicago Herald